3 Days to de-bloat your belly

Summer is approaching! Even though we have months to build our beach ready bodies, many of us spend the spring procrastinating. Thinking we have all the time in the world to tone up our bellies before we need to take out the bathing suit. Then out of nowhere, the pool party invitations begin to roll in and before you know it you are a week away from having to bare it all! No need to panic. There are some quick tricks I use to de-bloat and tone up in a short period of time. Now to be clear, these tricks will not make you suddenly build a 6 pack and loose 10lbs of fat in 3 days. That homework needs to be done over a longer stretch of time. However, if you follow my guidelines, you will get rid of your bloat and water retention to give you a leaner and more toned appearance!

1. Say no to processed foods, sugar and refined carbohydrates.

For 3 days you are going to avoid eating anything processed or artificial. This means anything that comes in a package including protein bars and protein powders. You will also be avoiding refined carbs which are forms of sugars and starches that are not found in nature. Basically no bread, wheat, pasta, white rice, foods with added sugar or any grains that are not 100% whole grain. The only sugar that is ok is the sugar naturally found in fruit. Complex carbs such as sweet potato, quinoa, brown rice and rolled oats are ok in moderation.

2. Enlist the magical powers of lemon water.

Right when you wake up, sip a cup of hot water with lemon before eating anything. This powerful beverage has an array of awesome benefits. Lemons kick start your digestive track and cleanse the body of unwanted materials. In other words- they make you go to the bathroom! The citric acid in lemons also help maximize enzyme function, which stimulates the liver and aids in detoxification. Sipping lemon water throughout the day can also curb hunger and aid in weight loss. For extra credit, add some ginger, turmeric and or cheyenne pepper for an extra boost of anti inflammatory goodies.

3. Cut carbonated beverages and artificial sweeteners.

Artificial sweeteners are a huge cause of gas and bloating. For 3 days, cut all sweeteners including the natural ones like stevia and xylitol. You are also going to want to remove all carbonated beverages from your diet. Fizzy drinks distend the stomach. Stick to water with lemon and herbal teas.

4. Say no to sodium.

Stay away from foods with a high sodium content such as soups, canned tuna, and all processed foods (as previously discussed) and get rid of the salt shaker. Try seasoning your foods with herbs, citrus juices and spices.

5. Ditch the dairy

Many of us have a dairy intolerance that we aren't even aware of. In fact, 75% of the worlds population cannot properly breakdown lactose. This can cause gas, bloating and indigestion which is not cute in a swim suit. If you want to ensure a non bloated belly on your beach day, steer clear of milk, yogurt, cheese, cream and butter.

6. Eat asparagus and other natural diuretics

Asparagus doesn't only make your pee smell funny, It also has elements that boost kidney performance and help flush excess water out of the body. try incorporating this super green to at least 1 meal per day for the 3 days before your event. Other foods with diuretic powers are cucumbers, celery, lettuce, watercress, watermelon, carrots, beets, parsley, green tea and garlic.

7. Sober Up!

Hate to break it to you, but you are going to have to put down the bottle if you want your abs to show. There is no better way to ensure water retention then to go out boozing. When you drink alcohol, you are dehydrating your body and making your kidneys kick into overdrive to remove excess water from your system. Because your body is being parched of fluids and electrolytes, it stores all of the water you ingest, which causes your tissue to swell. Bloat from booze doesn't only effect your belly, it often causes the face to puff as well. No bueno when you are posing for selfies by the pool!

8. Cool it with the cruciferous veggies and other bloat inducing produce.

Vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts and cabbage are super nutritious and should be part of your daily routine. However, they can also cause bloating and gas so cut these out 3 days before your big beach body reveal. Other sneaky bloat inducing foods to steer clear of are apples, onions, beans and lentils.

9. Drink more water!

You have heard it time and time again, but it’s true. Drinking more water causes you to release extra water during excretion which reduces the amount of water retention in the body. It’s that simple. Aim to sip your water throughout the day rather than chugging a gallon at a time. I also advise you to sip on green or peppermint tea. Both have positive effects when it comes to reducing belly bloat.